§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Minister of Agriculture the total capital commitments of county councils and councils of county boroughs for the purpose of the land settlement scheme in England and Wales; how many persons have been settled on the land by the councils since the date of inception; what proportion of these are ex-service men; and will he state the average loss per holding after making provision for the repayment of loans and administrative expenses to the council, and the average capital loss per settler?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThe total capital commitments of county councils and councils of county boroughs for the purpose of the Land Settlement Scheme in 1555W England and Wales amount at present to, approximately, £15,000,000. The number of men settled on the land since the inception of the scheme and still in occupation of their holdings is 18,702, of whom 16,461 are ex-service men. Included in the total are 2,364 persons who have been provided with holdings on land acquired before December, 1918. The normal loss per holding, taking one year with another, averages £33 per annum. It will be impossible to form any estimate of the capital loss until the financial adjustment to be made between councils and the Ministry at 1st April, 1926, has been completed.